Changing the energy in the room is an excellent way to keep your audience engaged. Walking and moving around the room is one easy way to move that energy around. Not only does it keep things lively, but it energizes your body and makes you feel confident and in charge.

What are the keys to looking confident when walking?

First, you must take several steps and stop. You cannot pace back and forth. Second, you have to plan where you will walk so that you do not stand in front of the screen and block the view of your audience. Third, you have to know your audience and their views on walking when presenting. Walking to the back of the room really changes the energy in the room and keeps everyone awake—but this depends on the room situation and the audience’s expectations. What walking is not: Walking is not changing your weight from foot to foot in a swaying motion. Walking is not moving forward and backward one or more steps every time you start a new sentence. Walking is not constantly pacing from one side of the room to another.

When to Walk

Change is occurring: You want to discuss a change. You discuss the problems in the past on the left side of the screen. When you start talking about the changes and benefits, you move to the right side of the screen. Practice this technique to increase the impact of your presentation. To influence audience: Moving closer has the effect of increasing intimacy. It gives the impression that you want to get closer to your audience. Be conscious of what you are doing.

• Don’t do all your movements at the same time.
• When walking, restrain your gestures.
• When standing still, use larger gestures.

Use walking as another way to change the pace of your talk.